Costa, Matthew L., Achten, Juul, Parsons, Nicholas R., Rangan, Amar, Griffin, Damian R., Tubeuf, Sandy and Lamb, S. E. (2014) Percutaneous fixation with Kirschner wires versus volar locking plate fixation in adults with dorsally displaced fracture of distal radius : randomised controlled trial. BMJ, Volume 349 . pp. 1-10. Article number g4807. doi:10.1136/bmj.g4807

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Abstract

Objectives: To compare the clinical effectiveness of Kirschner wire fixation with locking plate fixation for patients with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius.

Design: A multicentre two arm parallel group assessor blind randomised controlled trial with 1:1 treatment allocation.

Setting: 18 trauma centres in the United Kingdom.

Participants: 461 adults with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius within 3 cm of the radiocarpal joint that required surgical fixation. Patients were excluded if the surgeon thought that the surface of the wrist joint was so badly displaced it required open reduction.

Interventions: Kirschner wire fixation: wires are passed through the skin over the dorsal aspect of the distal radius and into the bone to hold the fracture in the correct anatomical position. Locking plate fixation: a locking plate is applied through an incision over the volar (palm) aspect of the wrist and secured to the bone with fixed angle locking screws.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcome measure: validated patient rated wrist evaluation (PRWE). This rates wrist function in two (equally weighted) sections concerning the patient’s experience of pain and disability to give a score out of 100. Secondary outcomes: disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, the EuroQol (EQ-5D), and complications related to the surgery.

Results: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were well balanced, and over 90% of patients completed follow-up. The wrist function of both groups of patients improved by 12 months. There was no clinically relevant difference in the patient rated wrist score at three, six, or 12 months (difference in favour of the plate group was −1.3, 95% confidence interval −4.5 to 1.8; P=0.40). Nor was there a clinically relevant difference in health related quality of life or the number of complications in each group.

Conclusions: Contrary to the existing literature, and against the rapidly increasing use of locking plate fixation, this trial found no difference in functional outcome in patients with dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius treated with Kirschner wires or volar locking plates. Kirschner wire fixation, however, is cheaper and quicker to perform.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RD Surgery
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Clinical Trials Unit Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Wrist -- Fractures
Journal or Publication Title:	BMJ
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
ISSN:	0959-535X
Official Date:	5 August 2014
Dates:	Date Event 5 August 2014 Published 17 July 2014 Accepted
Date of first compliant deposit:	28 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	28 December 2015
Volume:	Volume 349
Number of Pages:	10
Page Range:	pp. 1-10
Article Number:	Article number g4807
DOI:	10.1136/bmj.g4807
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access

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